very naughty puppy?

Question

Ok I have read Jan Fennells book "the dog listener" and thought I was getting somewhere with my 6mth old pup. But there is one thing I can not get her to stop doing. When ever we go out and leave her at home she punishes me by chewing up books, envelopes, and shoes. I have already lost two library books and four pairs of shoes. i just don't know what to do about it anymore, any suggestions?

Thanks for all your advice but I don't beleive in crating dogs. We will be preparing a kennel for her this weekend. The thing is she doesn't always do that. A lot of the time she has the freedom to go visit the neighbours while we are out.

Answer 1

CRATE,CRATE,CRATE!!!!

Answer 2

I never believed in crating dogs either, however, when I got my 6 month old german shepherd/husky mix, I changed my mind. He did the same thing you just mentioned, and I ended up getting a crate to put him in when I am out for awhile. He likes the crate and doesn't mind going into it at all and seems quite content in it. He did have a nice foam dog bed in it to, however, while I was gone he demolished that too, so now all he has is a blanket (which he tends to chew up while in there). I usually give him a few toys, some biscuits, a kong stuffed with treats, and a chew rope to entertain him while he's in there. I figure one of these days, he will outgrow this stage. You really should consider a crate - it will make your life and your pups a lot easier and less stressful. Good luck.

Answer 3

Your puppy is experiencing seperation anxiety and is very stressed when you leave. I would recommend a crate for when you are not home.

While you are home, you can work on overcoming the seperation anxiety. Get a baby gate and gate yor puppy in a room. Sit outside of the room so the puppy can see you, but you do not acknowledge the puppy. Give your puppy toys and kong with peanut butter to keep it busy and preoccupied. Your puppy will cry at first but the more you do this, the more your puppy will realize it's okay to be in a different room.

Once you overcome that, do that so that you are in a room where the puppy can't see you, but can hear you.

After that, leave home for 10 minutes, then 30 minutes, then an hour...etc. Eventually you will be able to leave your puppy out all day without any problems. It will just take time and patience. Good luck!

Answer 4

Your puppy is either bored when she is home alone, or she has separation anxiety. You can talk to a professional trainer to help you with either case. And you can't look at is as if she was punishing you. She is not punishing you, she is either just looking for something to keep her busy, or she is anxious because you are gone.

My dog used to do the same thing when I first adopted her. So when we were home with her, if we caught her chewing on something she was not supposed to, we would interrupt her by saying "No!" then remove it from her mouth, and replace it with one of her toys. Then praise her for chewing on the toy. We would also praise her for choosing to chew on a toy on her own. And when we were gone we kept her in her crate. You can look into crate training. It will keep your stuff safe, and it will keep your puppy safe from ingesting anything she shouldn't. My dog doesn't have to stay in a crate anymore when she is home alone because she has learned what she is allowed to chew on, and what she isn't allowed to chew on.

Answer 5

A crate is the only answer when you are not at home. She will eventually get used to being put in her crate when you leave and may even go in before you tell her to. Takes time, but she shouldn't be left out if you're not there.

Answer 6

Hiya, welcome to our world ha ha! Seriously though, i know you're having a tough time with her but please, please don't crate her. She's only a baby and is doing what baby dogs do, chew, chew and chew again! She'll grow out of it in time, and thats what it takes - time! She wasn't bought into this world to be loved and fussed over only to be shoved in a crate when her owner goes out??? Just get yourself into the habit of putting your things away before you go out and you'll have no problems, well, you'll have a few but chewing your favourite things won't be one of them! She's not trying to punish you by chewing your stuff, she's too young for that but thats not to say she doesn't miss you because she does, badly and so try your best to limit the seperation hours, ie - leave her with a family member or neighbour for an hour or so, that way she'll be occupied whilst you're away and as she grows up she'll realise that when you go out, you're always going to come back! if you can't leave her with a family member or neighbour then leave the radio on for her, a bit of background noise works wonders! Good luck and stick with her, she deserves it doesn't she?

Answer 7

The dog is not punishing you ... you are punishing yourself by not putting the dog in a crate or kennel. How much has this cost you so far?

Answer 8

for one show for what she has chewn and scold her alot. If that still doesnt work you can go buy some stuff from Petco or somewere that you can spray on the things she likes to chew and it will keep her away becuase dogs cant stand the smell...just ask some1 at the store were to find it.

Answer 9

Either put your stuff away or crate her.

She is not punishing you, she is exhibiting stress. Chewing is a stress-reliever for dogs. A crate will keep her out of trouble and make her feel more secure.

Answer 10

I put my dog in a kennel in the house when i leave. Get yourself one of those kennels (the wire ones) not the plastic kind, and you problems will be solved.

Answer 11

crate training is the only way to save your belongings. my dog did the same thing with my dad's hide-a-bed. until i bought her a crate.